Farsightedness (Hyperopia)-Topic Overview Farsightedness (Hyperopia) Credits What is farsightedness? People who are farsighted see things at a distance more easily than they see things up close. If you are very farsighted, close objects may be so blurry that you can't do tasks such as reading or sewing. A farsighted eye sees things differently than an eye that is not farsighted. Farsightedness (hyperopia) is usually a variation from normal, not a disease. How it affects you will likely change as you age. What causes farsightedness? Farsightedness occurs when light entering the eye is focused behind the retina instead of directly on it . This is caused by an eye that is too short, whose cornea is not curved enough, or whose lens sits farther back in the eye than normal. Farsightedness often runs in families. In rare cases, some diseases such as retinopathy and eye tumors can cause it. What are the symptoms? Symptoms of farsightedness can include: Blurred vision , especially at night. Trouble seeing objects up close. For example, you can't see well enough to read newspaper print.

Aching eyes, eyestrain, and headaches . Children with this problem may have no symptoms. But a child with more severe farsightedness may: Rub his or her eyes often. Have trouble reading or show little interest in reading. When does farsightedness start? How does it change over time? Farsightedness often starts in early childhood. But normal growth corrects the problem. If a child is still a bit farsighted when the eye has stopped growing (at around 9 years of age), the eye can usually adjust to make up for the problem. This is called accommodation . But as we age, our eyes can no longer adjust as well. Starting at about age 40, our eyes naturally begin to lose the ability to focus on close objects. This is called presbyopia . You may start to notice that your near vision becomes blurred. As presbyopia gets worse, both near and distance vision will become blurred. How is farsightedness diagnosed? A routine eye exam by an ophthalmologist or optometrist can show whether you are farsighted. The eye exam includes questions about your eyesight and a physical exam of your eyes.

Ophthalmoscopy , tonometry , a slit lamp exam, and other vision tests are also part of a routine eye exam. Eye exams should be done for new babies and at all well-child visits. Continued How is it treated? Most farsighted people don't need treatment. Your eyes can usually adjust to make up for the problem. But as you age and your eyes can't adjust as well, you will probably need eyeglasses or contact lenses . (Glasses or contact lenses can help at any age if farsightedness is more than a mild problem.) Surgery may be an option in some cases. Procedures to reshape the cornea , such as LASIK , can be done for milder cases of farsightedness. For severe farsightedness, surgery can replace the clear lens of your eye with an implanted lens. But many eye specialists question whether these procedures are a good choice. Most farsighted people can have very good vision with glasses or contact lenses . Farsightedness is not a disease, and most farsighted eyes are otherwise normal and healthy. If you are farsighted, get regular eye exams, and see your eye care specialist if you have changes in your vision.

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.© 1995-2015 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Pagination Farsightedness (Hyperopia) do you have it? What can you do? Farsightedness Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment Hyperopia is a fancy name for farsightedness. Terrific. What does that mean? If your doctor diagnoses you with hyperopia, it means you suffer a common vision problem; one millions of people suffer from yearly. However, the term hyperopia sounds very fancy you have to admit. If you are farsighted, you do need to see an eye doctor and have the appropriate tests taken to make sure you receive proper advice and vision correction. There are times however, when eye doctor or optometrists , or ophthalmologists (depending on the person you see) may recommend tests you really do not need.

They use fancy words and terms to describe procedures that sound life saving, when in fact they may just cost you a bit more money. Before we talk about those however, let's make sure you DO know what hyperopia is and how it can affect you. Hyperopia - An Overview Hyperopia, or "farsightedness" as us laypeople refer to it, is a condition affecting roughly a quarter of those with vision problems. It is as common as most other vision problems like nearsightedness, maybe slightly less common. If you have farsightedness, you have difficultly seeing objects when they are near to you, but can see objects at a distance with relative ease. Many people develop minor farsightedness with age. Typically, farsightedness is a condition that worsens with aging. Signs & Symptoms of Hyperopia Most people with hyperopia do not realize it until they visit the eye doctor, especially if they have a mild case. You may notice you experience frequent headaches. Most of the time people with hyperopia have difficulty when working with computers when the monitors they use are too far away. You might notice someone reading while holding his or her book an arms length away. This may be a clue they have hyperopia.

In this case, a prescription for eyeglasses may help significantly. It can reduce eyestrain and improve one's ability to see near and far. People with farsightedness may also find they have better vision while driving when they wear corrective lenses or eyeglasses. Diagnosis & Treatment An eye doctor can easily diagnose farsightedness by reviewing the shape of your eyeball. Most people with hyperopia have an irregularly shaped eyeball; light shining on the eye tends to focus behind, rather than directly on, the retina of the eye. Children often have hyperopia but outgrow it with age. Others have a condition similar to hyperopia known as presbyopia, where you may experience difficulty-seeing things up close, but this is largely due to visual problems that arise from aging. There are presbyopia vitamins available. Some nutrients are helpful such as lutein, vinpocetine, zeaxanthin, l-lysine, and various vitamins and enzymes than can help slow the onset of Presbyopia and maintain vision. Treatment for hyperopia is relatively simple. Most of the time your eye doctor recommends wearing prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to help balance your vision.

Corrective lenses will change the way your eye reflects light, so you reduce the effort it takes your eye to sea things up close. People with hyperopia have prescription lenses often referred to as reading lenses, because they come in + prescription sizes, meaning they magnify or enlarge the size of objects you read up close. Find an Eye Doctor: Myopia & Hypermetropia | Near & Long Sightedness | Vision Express Myopia-hypermetropia Myopia and Hypermetropia Both Myopia (short-sightedness) and Hypermetropia (long-sightedness) are common eye conditions that mean light does not focus on the retina of the eye. Both conditions can be easily corrected using prescription glasses or contact lenses or in mild cases by laser eye surgery . Myopia - Short Sighted Myopia is the term used to define short sightedness. Light from a distant object forms an image before it reaches the retina. This could be because the eye is too long, or the cornea or crystalline lens is too strong. A myopic person has clear vision when looking at objects close to them, but distant objects will appear blurred.

Myopia is easily corrected at your local Vision Express optician using prescription glasses or contact lenses specifically designed to counteract the effect. A concave lens (minus powered) is placed in front of a myopic eye, moving the image back to the retina and clarifying the image. Hypermetropia (Hyperopia) - Long Sighted Hypermetropia means long sight and is where the image of a nearby object is formed behind the retina. This could be because the eye is too short, or the cornea or crystalline lens does not refract the light enough. A hypermetropic person may have blurred vision when looking at objects close to them, and clearer vision when looking at objects in the distance. By placing a convex (plus powered) lens in front of a hypermetropic eye, the image is moved forward and focuses correctly on the retina. Myopia & Hyperopia – Color Blindness Laser Eye Surgery Myopia & Hyperopia These two vision problems stem from the eye not being able to focus light exactly on the retina. The ability to do so is actually quite uncommon and most humans are fractionally long-sighted, fortunately the eye is capable of changing its shape slightly to refocus the light onto the retina for most people.

The saying 20-20 vision does not actually imply perfect vision, it implies normal vision – someone whose eye does actually focus light exactly on the retina can achieve better than 20-20 results in an eye test. Fortunately being slightly longsighted does not have much impact on being able to see clearly at most ranges, though it certainly indicates why most people passing the age of 40 start to think about owning a pair of reading glasses. Hyperopia (Long Sightedness) in Humans As mentioned above, most people are actually long sighted. However the majority of these are only longsighted to a degree which the eye can automatically compensate. For the rest however, long sightedness means living with the inability to naturally read a newspaper, magazine, or perhaps even focus on a loved one up close. Corrective lenses or laser eye surgery are a common and perfectly workable solutions. The fortunate flip side is that long sighted people can often take in better quality images of distant objects, for example reading a street sign well before someone with 20-20 vision could.

Technically speaking, long sightedness is caused by imperfections in the eyeball, either the eyeball is too short or the cornea is too flat. As a result light waves will focus behind the retina rather than on it, and up close objects will appear blurry. In Severe cases, all vision will appear blurry as the eye does not always have the power to refocus the light waves onto the retina. Long sightedness, like most eye conditions is usually inherited, and can be progressive or stationary. Many people don’t realise that they are naturally slightly long sighted. People progressing to a point where the eye is struggling to naturally compensate may start to experience headaches and tiredness after a lot of visual work – a good sign it’s time to head to an optometrist for a check-up. Myopia (Short Sightedness) in Humans Myopia is of course the opposite of hyperopia. Either as a result of having an elongated eyeball or a steep cornea, rays of light focus in front of the retina causing objects at distance to appear blurry. The extent of these effects is measured in ‘diopters’.

Categorically, low myopia describes the condition at -3.00 diopters or less, medium between -3.00 and -6.00, and high greater than -6.00. A Diopter is a unit of measurement of the optical power of a lens. Mathematically, a 3 Diopter lens brings parallel rays of light to focus at 1/3rd of a meter. Essentially the degree of short sightedness in a person will determine at what distance he can still clearly identify objects. For example my vision is blurry beyond a few inches, whereas when I was young, the progressive nature of my myopia was in its early stages; I could comfortably read the blackboard from the back of the classroom. My myopia was assumed to have come on in my childhood, however the onset of short sightedness can come as late as 40 or older, or as young as newborn. Many studies have found a direct link between increased IQ and myopia. According to Arthur Jensen short sighted people are on average 7-8 IQ points higher than people with normal vision.

Confirming this information, China has the highest average IQ and also the highest percentage of short sightedness amongst its population, in fact 80% of the population are at least fractionally short sighted (-0.5 diopters). A small consolation is that people suffering a reasonable level of myopia are less likely to require reading glasses in old age. This is the major reason why laser eye surgery is less recommended beyond the age of 40. An optometrist testing a patient for long or short sightedness Long Sightedness Tests & Short Sightedness Tests Testing for long and short sightedness is a simple matter of visiting your optometrist. Your vision will be tested by your ability to read letters of diminishing size displayed on a wall a few meters from you. If you cannot read letters of acceptable size, lenses of varying strength are placed over your eyes. Lenses of varying strength and type will be tried until your vision is restored to normal and a prescription for glasses or contact lenses is completed. Correcting Hyperopia and Myopia: Glasses, Contacts, Laser Eye Surgery Wearing glasses, contacts, or undergoing expensive laser surgery are the only ways to restore vision to a functional level for both long and short sighted people.

There is no natural remedy, and much like color blindness and cataracts, while vitamin A is essential for eye health, no amount of excess vitamin A will restore ones sight to normal vision. It is accepted however that you can undertake ‘stretches for eyes’ to strengthen them. For example by repetitively changing focus between a near and far object, you can strengthen your eye. The result is not to reverse the effects of myopia or hyperopia, but to stall the progression to more severely disadvantaged vision. You can read more about Glasses and Contact Lenses here and Laser Eye Surgery here. Share this: Long Sight - Hypermetropia. Causes of longsightedness | Patient Astigmatism (a refractive error due to an unevenly curved cornea). In order to understand refractive errors fully, it is useful to know how we see. When we look at an object, light rays from the object pass through the eye to reach the retina. This causes nerve messages to be sent from the cells of the retina down the optic nerve to the vision centres in the brain. The brain processes the information it receives, so that in turn, we can see.

Light rays come off an object in all directions, as they result from the light around us from sun, moon and artificial light bouncing back off the object. The part of this bounced light that come into the eye from an object needs to be focused on a small area of the retina. If this doesn't happen, what we look at will be blurred. The cornea and lens have the job of focusing light. The cornea does most of the work, as it (refracts) the light rays which then go through the lens, which finely adjusts the focusing. The lens does this by changing its thickness. This is called accommodation. The lens is elastic and can become flatter or more rounded. The more rounded (convex) the lens, the more the light rays can be bent inwards. The shape of the lens is varied by the small muscles in the ciliary body. Tiny string-like structures called the suspensory ligaments are attached at one end to the lens and at the other to the ciliary body. This is a bit like a trampoline with the central bouncy bit being the lens, the suspensory ligaments being the springs and the ciliary muscles being the rim around the edge.

When the ciliary muscles in the ciliary body tighten, the suspensory ligaments slacken, causing the lens to become fatter. This happens for near objects. For looking at far objects, the ciliary muscle relaxes, making the suspensory ligaments tighten, and the lens thins out. More bending (refraction) of the light rays is needed to focus on nearby objects, such as when reading. Less bending of light is needed to focus on objects far away. What is long sight (hypermetropia)? Long sight occurs when light from near objects is not quite brought to focus in time to hit the retina. The point of focus would in fact be behind the retina, if the light could get that far. The lens tries hard to change its thickness (becomes fatter or more rounded) in an attempt to bring the light into focus on the retina - a process called accommodation. However, people with long sight cannot accommodate fully and so the light does not focus on the retina and vision is blurred. This occurs because the eyeball is too short, the cornea is too flat (and so bends the light rays less), or the lens cannot become round enough (and so lacks power).

People with a minor degree of long sight can usually see at distance, as this light does not require the same strength of focusing. Their near sight may also be clear. However, they may get tiring of the eyes, often with a headache and vision discomfort, because the lens is having to work so hard. People with more severe hypermetropia are not able to see near objects clearly in focus. Long sight means exactly what the term suggests: you can see objects which are a long distance from you quite clearly. The diagram above shows the differences in focusing between a normal and a long-sighted (hypermetropic) eye: What causes long sight (hypermetropia)? The causes of long sight are usually hereditary (genetic). Long sight can occur at any age but it tends to become more noticeable above the age of 40 years. In rare cases, long sight is caused by other conditions such as diabetes, small eye syndrome (microphthalmia), cancers around the eye and problems with the blood vessels in the retina. Many babies and very young children tend to be slightly long-sighted but usually grow out of this by about 3 years of age.

A particular type of age-related long sight (presbyopia) occurs because the lens of the eye becomes more stiff with age. See separate leaflet called Age-related Long Sight (Presbyopia) for more details. What are the symptoms of long sight (hypermetropia)? The main symptom is a difficulty with near vision. 'Tiring' of the eyes (asthenopia) is common and long-sighted people may have headaches and uncomfortable vision. There may be difficulties with seeing with both eyes (binocular vision), as the brain will tend to ignore signals coming from the most long-sighted eye. Lazy eye (amblyopia) or squint (strabismus) can therefore also occur in long sight. Long-sighted people may have difficulty with depth perception (3-dimensional vision), as this needs two eyes to work together, more or less equally. Are there any complications? If severe long sight (hypermetropia) is present from a very young age, lazy eye (amblyopia) can result. The eye with less good vision does not learn to see properly because the brain ignores its signals and concentrates only on the better eye.

Visual development in the brain occurs in the first few years of life and if this problem is not spotted until after vision has finished developing, the poorer eye will not fully develop its 'information route' into the brain, so will never see as well. What is the treatment for long sight (hypermetropia)? Glasses The simplest, cheapest and safest way to correct long sight is with glasses. Convex prescription lenses (called plus lenses) are used to bend light rays slightly inwards to give a little bit of additional focusing power to the eye. The light rays then have a lesser angle to bend travelling through the cornea and lens and the lens has less work to do. As a result, the light rays are able to focus on the retina. There is an enormous choice of spectacle frames available, to suit all budgets; younger people may even regard them as a fashion accessory. Contact lenses These do the same job as glasses but they sit right on the surface of the eye. Many different types of contact lenses are available. Lenses may be soft or rigid gas-permeable. They can be daily disposable, extended wear, monthly disposable, or non-disposable. Your optician can advise which type is most suitable for your eyes and your prescription.

Contact lenses tend to be more expensive than glasses. They require more care and meticulous hygiene. They are more suitable for older teenagers and adults, rather than very young children. Surgery Laser eye surgery is an option for some people with long sight. Generally, this type of surgery is not available on the NHS. Laser eye surgery is expensive but offers the chance to restore normal sight permanently. The procedure is generally painless. Complete and permanent resolution of the refractive error is possible in a number of people. Others have a significant improvement even though perfect vision is not achieved and glasses or contact lenses may still be needed. A small number of people develop complications. Some develop hazy vision, a problem with night vision, or problems with bright light haloes in their peripheral (edge) vision. Many private companies advertise laser eye surgery. Before embarking upon this type of treatment you should do some research. You only have one pair of eyes and you need to find the best treatment for you. This may not be the cheapest. Try to go with personal recommendations, preferably a recommendation by an NHS eye surgeon (ophthalmologist).

It is important that you know your facts - the failure rate, the risk of complications, level of aftercare and what the procedure involves, before submitting yourself to an irreversible, costly treatment. Several types of laser surgery have been developed. These include: LASIK®, PRK® and LASEK®. They are all similar, typically taking about ten minutes per eye and aiming to reshape the cornea by using the laser to remove a very thin layer of corneal tissue. The reshaping of the cornea allows the refraction of the eye to be corrected. LASIK® LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In situ Keratomileusis. This is the most popular form of laser eye surgery. The laser is used to lift and remove a thin flap of the cornea. This helps to flatten the cornea so that the light rays can be focused further back and on to the retina. The flap is then replaced and sticks spontaneously to the underlying cornea. The flap serves as a natural bandage, keeping the eye comfortable as it heals. Healing occurs relatively quickly. This is the most popular and common type of laser eye surgery. Vision recovery time is said to be around 24 hours.

For people who are not suitable for LASIK® the following two options are sometimes offered. PRK® PRK stands for Photo-Refractive Keratectomy. During PRK®, instead of creating a corneal flap as in LASIK®, the surgeon completely removes the extremely thin outer layer of the cornea, using an alcohol solution, a 'buffing' device or a blunt surgical instrument. The underlying cornea is then reshaped with a laser. A new epithelial layer grows back within five days. The healing time in PRK® is faster than in LASEK®. LASEK® LASEK stands for LAser Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis. The LASEK® procedure involves taking a thinner flap of corneal epithelium than in LASIK®. The cornea underneath is then treated as in LASIK® and the thinner flap is repositioned and held in place with a bandage contact lens. The hinged flap made in LASEK® surgery is much thinner than the corneal flap created in LASIK® (which contains both epithelial and deeper stromal tissues). The LASEK® technique lessens the likelihood of removing too much cornea.

There is also slightly less risk of developing dry eyes afterwards. Patients with a naturally thin cornea may be more suited to this treatment. LASEK® can be a better option for patients with a high degree of long sight, which requires more tissue removal from the central cornea. LASEK® tends to be more painful and discomfort can last longer than with LASIK®. Visual recovery time can be up to a week. In some cases, the thin flap created during LASEK® is not strong enough to be replaced and will be removed completely as it would have been in PRK®. The alcohol solution used during LASEK® can irritate and slow the healing process immediately after surgery. Side-effects of all laser surgery may include blurred vision, over-correction or under-correction of long-sight, eye infection and dry eyes. How often do I need an eyesight test? This depends on your age, your family history and any pre-existing medical conditions. People at high risk of sight problems need more frequent eyesight checks. If you have diabetes , raised pressure in the eye (glaucoma) , macular degeneration, or a family history of these conditions, you should check to see what your optician recommends about regular check-ups.

If you fall into a high-risk group, you should have at least a two-yearly (biennial) eye examination if you are over 50 years of age, and a yearly (annual) one if you are over 60 years of age. If you have more than one risk factor then an eyesight check is recommended at least every three years once you reach 40 years of age. Low-risk people with no symptoms of an eyesight problem, do not need to have their eyes tested so frequently. If you fall in this group and are aged between 19 and 40 years, an eye test is needed every 10 years. Between the ages of 41 and 55 years, it is recommended that you see an optician five-yearly. At any age between 56 and 65 years, two-yearly checks are needed, dropping to annual checks in low-risk people who are aged 65 years or more. References & Disclaimer | Provide Feedback Further reading & references Settas G, Settas C, Minos E, et al ; Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) versus laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for hyperopia correction.

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Jun 13;6:CD007112. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD007112.pub3. Myopia & Hyperopia | Visian ICL Myopia & Hyperopia Saudi Arabia - المملكة العربية السعودية Egypt - مصر Myopia & Hyperopia Correcting Nearsightedness or Myopia Nearsightedness, clinically called “myopia,” is a very common vision problem. The commonly used term “nearsighted” is a simple way to understand myopia. Those who suffer from it are able to see nearby objects more clearly than far away objects. Usually nearsightedness is caused by an eye that is too long or too much curvature of the cornea. The irregular shape of the eye causes incoming light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. As a result, images of distant objects appear blurry. Nearsightedness varies in severity and can be an obstacle in daily life. Recognizing friends, safely driving, or simply seeing a movie can prove to be a challenge if you suffer from myopia.

Many people treat their condition with the use of glasses or contacts which help to refocus light and create clearer images. For those who are looking for a less restrictive long term solution, Visian ICL (implantable collamer lens) could be a great choice for correcting your myopia. Correcting Farsightedness or Hyperopia Farsightedness, clinically called “hyperopia,” is another common vision problem. Someone who is considered “farsighted” can be described as more able to see distant objects when compared to objects that are closer. Farsightedness should not be confused with presbyopia, the condition in which reading nearby objects becomes more difficult, which naturally occurs in everyone as they age. Farsightedness is typically causes by an eye that is too short. This irregularity in eye shape results in the incoming light rays focusing behind the retina rather than directly on it. As a consequence, images of near objects appear more blurry. As farsightedness also varies greatly in severity, it can also play a role in hindering daily life. Many people who suffer from hyperopia have difficulty working on computers, reading or any other activity that require close up vision.

Farsightedness is also commonly treated with glasses or contacts to help refocus light properly in the eye. Visian ICL — Improve your Visual Freedom While effective for short term or temporary vision correction glasses and contact lenses have their downsides. They usually can’t be worn at all times and are easily misplaced, or damaged which means many people will find themselves in situations where their vision is compromised. Many people who are nearsighted seek out alternative seek out solutions for correcting their vision challenges. The Visian ICL procedure provides an appealing option for correcting many common visual problems. If you qualify, the Visian ICL may provide you the freedom to live a life uninhibited by the day to day lifestyle demands of glasses or contacts. *Visian ICLs are only approved in the U.S. to correct myopia. ICLs that correct for astigmatism or hyperopia have not been approved for use in the U.S. Myopia & Hyperopia Myopia & Hyperopia Middle East - المملكة العربية السعودية India Myopia & Hyperopia Correcting Nearsightedness or Myopia Nearsightedness, clinically called “myopia,” is a very common vision problem.

The commonly used term “nearsighted” is a simple way to understand myopia. Those who suffer from it are able to see nearby objects more clearly than far away objects. Usually nearsightedness is caused by an eye that is too long or too much curvature of the cornea. The irregular shape of the eye causes incoming light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. As a result, images of distant objects appear blurry. Nearsightedness varies in severity and can be an obstacle in daily life. Recognizing friends, safely driving, or simply seeing a movie can prove to be a challenge if you suffer from myopia. Many people treat their condition with the use of glasses or contacts which help to refocus light and create clearer images. For those who are looking for a less restrictive long term solution, Visian ICL (implantable collamer lens) could be a great choice for correcting your myopia. Correcting Farsightedness or Hyperopia Farsightedness, clinically called “hyperopia,” is another common vision problem. Someone who is considered “farsighted” can be described as more able to see distant objects when compared to objects that are closer.

Farsightedness should not be confused with presbyopia, the condition in which reading nearby objects becomes more difficult, which naturally occurs in everyone as they age. Farsightedness is typically causes by an eye that is too short. This irregularity in eye shape results in the incoming light rays focusing behind the retina rather than directly on it. As a consequence, images of near objects appear more blurry. As farsightedness also varies greatly in severity, it can also play a role in hindering daily life. Many people who suffer from hyperopia have difficulty working on computers, reading or any other activity that require close up vision. Farsightedness is also commonly treated with glasses or contacts to help refocus light properly in the eye. Visian ICL — Improve your Visual Freedom While effective for short term or temporary vision correction glasses and contact lenses have their downsides. They usually can’t be worn at all times and are easily misplaced, or damaged which means many people will find themselves in situations where their vision is compromised. Many people who are nearsighted seek out alternative seek out solutions for correcting their vision challenges. The Visian ICL procedure provides an appealing option for correcting many common visual problems.

If you qualify, the Visian ICL may provide you the freedom to live a life uninhibited by the day to day lifestyle demands of glasses or contacts. *Visian ICLs are only approved in the U.S. to correct myopia. ICLs that correct for astigmatism or hyperopia have not been approved for use in the U.S. Myopia, Hyperopia and Astigmatism Explained Myopia, Hyperopia and Astigmatism Explained By Orlin Sorensen on February 21, 2014 in Vision Training The names of eye conditions can sometimes be confusing, not to mention completely baffling when it comes to understanding what each conditions means. When it comes to nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, tons of people aren’t quite sure of the differences between the conditions. If you’re confused about what each one does, you are not alone. To make the explanations simpler, there is a video that you can watch that not only explains the differences, but also gives a short demonstration of each condition side by side with perfect vision. The video is pretty informative, but seeing the demonstration of each eye problem next to perfect vision image is a an eye opening experience!

Emmetropia Emmetropia is a word you may have never even heard before. It is the name for perfect vision. A person who has it can see clearly up close and at a distance. In the video, a person’s vision with emmetropia is displayed next to myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism at the end of each segment. Myopia The doctors call it myopia, but there is a good chance that you call it nearsightedness. Myopia usually occurs because the eye is slightly elongated. This causes the light that enters the eye to fall on the wrong part of the eye. The light should focus on the retina, but instead it comes to a focus in front of the retina, causing the image to be blurred. People who suffer from myopia can develop it from genetics and eyestrain. It is often discovered in childhood, but it can develop any time. For many sufferers, it levels off and their eyesight maintains a relatively stable amount of distortion. Others will see a continuing decline in their condition. Myopia usually causes blurred vision. Someone who is nearsighted can typically see things clearly up close, but have trouble with objects that are at a distance.

For instance, a person with myopia might have trouble reading the scoreboard at a football game when they are sitting in the bleachers and the scoreboard is in the end zone. To correct myopia, most doctors recommend vision correction through the use of prescription glasses, contacts or vision correction surgery. But, here at Rebuild Your Vision, we say that’s hogwash! There are natural vision improvement methods which include a better diet and eye vitamins . Hyperopia Hyperopia is also known as farsightedness and it usually occurs when the eye is shorter or smaller than normal. It causes the light which enters the eye to focus behind the retina instead of on the retina. This leads to the image appearing blurred. People who suffer from hyperopia have a hard time seeing objects up close. This means reading, computer usage and texting are more difficult tasks. People with hyperopia can usually see objects at a distance clearly. The symptoms of hyperopia include blurry vision, discomfort, eyestrain and rubbing the eyes. To correct hyperopia, again, most doctors prescribe contact lenses or glasses. Sometimes these vision correction aids only have to be worn if the sufferer is doing close work like reading or working on a computer. They also suggest vision correction surgery.

But, just like myopia, there are natural methods to prevent and treat farsightedness, including changing your diet and incorporating eye exercises into your daily routine. Astigmatism Astigmatism is the term used by both doctors and the public for this eye condition that is the result of the cornea or the lens having an irregular shape. This irregular shape causes the light that enters the eye to focus on two separate points. A person with perfect vision has a single focus point which lands directly on the retina. Having two separate focal points results in blurry vision. The symptoms for astigmatism are similar to other eye conditions. It causes headaches, eyestrain and mild blurring if there is a small amount of astigmatism. If there is a large amount of astigmatism, then there is significantly distorted vision. There is no definitive evidence as to what causes astigmatism, but there does seem to be a component of heredity to it. It often occurs along with either hyperopia or myopia. Astigmatism can get better over time or it can get worse; there are many variables to the condition. Astigmatism is usually addressed by prescribing glasses to correct the vision.

The glasses are not only intended to correct vision, but relieve the eyestrain, visual fatigue and headaches caused by eyestrain. Just like myopia and hyperopia, you can take steps to prevent or diminish the effects of astigmatism. Naturally vision therapy is also useful in the treatment. Eye exercises and diet are the keys to this type of therapy. Natural Vision Therapy Myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism can all be treated through natural vision therapy or training. As mentioned above, it generally consists of eating a healthy diet and doing regular eye exercises. If you are unsure about how to improve your diet to improve your eyesight, look at this list of 17 essential herbs, vitamins and minerals for healthy eyesight . And if you think changing your diet may be too big of an undertaking, consider adding a supplement designed specifically for healthy eyesight, for instance the Ocu-Plus Formula . Related content: Myopia, Hyperopia & Astigmatism - India's Top Lasik Eye Surgery Center Home » Eye Diseases » Myopia, Hyperopia & Astigmatism Myopia, Hyperopia & Astigmatism Introduction Do you have trouble seeing close objects? Distant objects? Both? These are common vision problems called refractive errors.

Glasses or contact lenses can almost always correct these problems. However, in some cases, a laser may be used to correct your vision. Your eye doctor can tell you what your vision problem is and suggest the best treatment for you. Testing your vision A simple eye examination can reveal most vision problems. By using eye-charts, lenses, and special instruments, your eye doctor can measure the focusing power of your eyes. This way, he or she can provide the prescription you need for glasses or contact lenses . Your eye doctor may also dilate your eyes to see how healthy they are. Glasses Glasses change the way light focuses on the inside of your eye. Glasses are fairly easy to get used to and take care of. Contacts lenses work just like glasses. But contacts are worn on your eyes. They can take more time to adjust to and care for. Refractive surgery This surgery changes the shape of your eye itself. Most often, a laser is used to reshape the cornea (clear front layer of the eye). This reduces your need for glasses or contacts. The normal eye If your eyes are normal, you can see near and distant objects clearly. The objects do not look blurry or distorted.

The cornea focuses light rays onto the retina (a layer that lines the back of the eye). If your eyes are normal, this process produces a focused image on the retina. This makes objects look clear. Refractive errors cause imperfect vision Refractive Errors are the most commonly found type of vision defects. Refractive error may be of three types: Myopia What is ‘Myopia’ or ‘Short Sightedness’? In myopic patients, rays of light are focused at a point in front of the retina instead of on the retina. Due to this defect, a person can see near objects clearly but distant vision is blurred. Causes of myopia Axial myopia – In the great majority of cases, myopia is axial, that is, it is due to an increase in the antero-posterior diameter of the eye. It is more commonly called the elongated eye. Curvature myopia – This is myopia caused by refractive errors resulting from excessive corneal curvature. Index myopia – This is caused due to the change in the refractive index of one or more media of the eye. Symptoms that indicate Myopia If you are suffering from- Blurred distance vision Chances are you are Myopic.

How to treat Myopia ? Contact lenses – Soft & Gas Permeable Laser surgery for myopia – Lasik & Custom LASIK Phakic Intra Ocular Lens – ICL & Phakic Intra Ocular lens Refractive Lensectomy LASIK is a safe and permanent treatment for myopia that eliminates the dependence of myopic patients on spectacles or contact lenses . In a myopic LASIK procedure The doctor first creates a thin protective flap of corneal tissue using an instrument called the Microkeratome or by a blade-free procedure (Intralase Femtosecond laser). He gently lifts this flap, thereby exposing the deeper corneal layers. He uses an Excimer laser to remove tissue from the central portion of the cornea. This flattens the central corneal curve, refocusing light back on to the retina. He gently replaces the protective flap, where it heals naturally and securely. This procedure is quick, painless and in most cases you can return to your normal activities very quickly, usually within hours. Hyperopia What is ‘Hyperopia’ or ‘Far-Sightedness’? People who have hyperopia can focus on distant objects but cannot clearly view objects in the near distance.

The rays of light come to a focus behind the retina. What are the causes of Hyperopia ? The cause of hyperopia is the failure of the lens to return to its normal rounded shape. Hyperopia is also caused by the eyeball being too short. Both these conditions result in the image being focused on a point behind the retina. Different types of hyperopia include Contact lenses – Soft & Gas Permeable Laser surgery for Hyperopia – Lasik & Custom LASIK Phakic Intra Ocular Lens – ICL & Phakic & Verisyse Intra Ocular lens Refractive Lensectomy In the hypermetropic LASIK procedure The doctor first creates a thin protective flap of corneal tissue using an instrument called the Microkeratome or by using Intralase femtosecond laser (blade-free LASIK). He gently lifts this flap, thereby exposing the deeper corneal layers. He then removes the tissue from the central and and mid-peripheral portion of the cornea with an Excimer laser. This steepens the central corneal curve, refocusing light back on to the retina. He gently replaces the protective flap, where it heals naturally and securely.

This procedure is quick, painless and in most cases you can return to your normal activities very quickly, usually within hours. Astigmatism Contact lenses – Soft Toric & Gas Permeable Soft Toric lenses Soft Toric lenses have twin power that is possible due to the different curvatures at different angles (one for astigmatism , the other for either myopia or hyperopia ). Some soft toric lenses also have a mechanism to keep the contact lens relatively stable on the eye. This prevents movement of the lenses when you blink or look around. Stability of the toric contact lenses is necessary for steady vision. In the astigmatic LASIK procedure, Your doctor first creates a thin protective flap of corneal tissue using an instrument called the Microkeratome/blade-free femtosecond laser procedure (Intralase). He gently lifts this flap, exposing the deeper corneal layers. Then he uses an Excimer laser to remove tissue from the portion of the cornea in the steeper axis preferentially. This focuses light back on to the retina by decreasing the irregularity in the various meridia.

He gently replaces the protective flap, where it heals naturally and securely This procedure is quick painless and in most cases you can return to your normal activities very quickly usually within hours. Get regular eye exams Regular eye examinations are a must. Eye exams are important to measure and correct vision problems. But seeing an eye doctor regularly also helps detect other eye problems. Early diagnosis and treatment of eye problems could save your eyesight. A 37-page, color-illustrated booklet that explains in everything that patients want to know about LASIK, in an easy-to-read format. Grab your FREE copy, now! Myopia, Hyperopia, Astigmatism Myopia, Hyperopia, Astigmatism Myopia (Nearsighted), Hyperopia (Farsighted), Astigmatism Myopia, Hyperopia and Astigmatism Cause Blurred Vision Myopia is Commonly called Nearsightedness Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, occurs when light rays focus in front of the retina instead of on the retina, and therefore causes blurry distance vision. Light focuses in front of the retina if the eye is too long or the refractive power of the eye (primarily the cornea or crystalline lens) too strong.

The traditional approach to correct myopia is by using eyeglasses or contact lenses to help move the light to the retina and provide clear vision. Refractive surgery ( LASIK and PRK ) may also be an option for those with myopia. Uncorrected myopia can also cause headaches or eyestrain. If you already wear glasses or contacts and experience headaches or eyestrain, or find yourself squinting, it may be time for a new optical prescription. Hyperopia is Commonly called Farsightedness Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, occurs when light entering the eye does not come to a clear focus on the retina . The focal point of the image is at a point behind the retina. This causes vision to be blurry at both distance and near if the hyperopia is a fairly high amount. If the hyperopia is a low amount, for example, less than +1.50 diopters, many young people can overcome the farsightedness and still see very clear at all distances. This is accomplished by contraction of the ciliary muscle in the eye, which causes the crystalline lens to become more convex in shape and thereby cause the images to focus closer to the desired point on the retina.

However, even if the person can see clearly by overcoming their hyperopia they may get tired eyes and/or headaches. Additionally, uncorrected hyperopia in children and students can sometimes make it more difficult to study and read and thereby decrease their ability to learn. If you wear glasses and have these symptoms, you may need a new prescription. Glasses may need to be worn full time or just for near vision, depending on the amount of hyperopia you have. Hyperopia can be corrected with glasses, contacts, or refractive surgery. Astigmatism Astigmatism is a refractive error where light rays come to focus at two different points inside the eye instead of one focal point. This causes blurred vision. Astigmatism is due to an irregularly shaped cornea , toric crystalline lens or toricity of the retina. For example, if the cornea (clear window at the front of the eye) is shaped like the back of a spoon with two different radii of curvature, the light rays will be focused in two different areas of the retina after being refracted by two different curved surfaces. Astigmatism can occur with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or alone.

Uncorrected astigmatism can cause eyestrain, headaches, and blurry vision at all distances. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, and refractive surgery. Contact lenses that correct astigmatism are called toric lenses. Both rigid gas permeable (RGP ) and soft contacts can be worn to correct astigmatism. Our contact lens experts can determine which type of contact lens is best for you. Some corneal diseases, such as keratoconus can create an irregular astigmatism that create a blurred vision that can only be overcome with specialized contact lenses. Eye Care News

Question: What would you be suffering from if you had 'hypermetropia'?
Answer: LONG-SIGHTEDNESS